The apology of Sr. Francis Bacon, Kt. : In certain imputations concerning the late Earl of Essex written to the Right Honourable his very good Lord the Earl of Devonshire, Lord Lieutenant of Ireland.

  • Bacon, Francis, 1561-1626.
Date:
1670
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: The apology of Sr. Francis Bacon, Kt. : In certain imputations concerning the late Earl of Essex written to the Right Honourable his very good Lord the Earl of Devonshire, Lord Lieutenant of Ireland. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    that your Lordfhip would be pleafed to have the honourable patience, to know the truth,in Come particularity^ all thatpaffedin this caufe, wherein I had any part, that you may perceive how honeft a heart I ever bear to my Soveraign, and to my Country, and to that Noble man, who had Co well dcfervca of Co well accepted of my defervings * whofe fortune! carrot rememfe without much grief. But for aqy action of mine towards him,: there is nothing that paifed me in my lift time, that, cometh to my remembrance with more clearnefs, and lefs check of con- fekflee •• lor it will appear to your Lordfhip, that I was not only not op. polite to my Lord oi t[jex» but that I did occupy the utmoft of my wits, and adventure my fortune with the Queen to have reintegrated his, and fo continued faithfully and induftrioufty, till his laft fatal impatience (for fo I will call itj after which day there was not time to work for him, though the fame, my affetiion, when it could not work on the fubjed proper) went to the next, with no ill effedd towards fome others, who I think do rather not know it, than not. acknow:edge it. And this I will allure your Lordfhip, I will leave nothing untold, that is truth for any enemy that I have to adde ? and on the other fide, I muft referve much which makes for me, in many refpe&s of duty, which 1 eftcem above my credit; and what 1 have here let down to your Lordfhip, I proteft,as I hope to have any pr;*■*; in God's favour, is true. It is well known, how l did many years fince dedicate my travels and ftudies, to the ufe andi(a$ I may tcarm it) ferviceof my Lord of £j]ex} which 1 preteft before God, 1 did not, making eleftion of him as the like- lieft mean of mine own advancement, but out of the humor of a man, that ever, from the time I had any ufe of reafon (whether it were reading upon good books, or upon the example of a good Eather, or by nature) 1 loved my Country more than was anfwerable to my fortune, and I held at that time, my Lord.to b? the fitter inftrument to do good to the State: and therefore 1 applied my self to him, in a manner which I think hapneth rarely among men : for I dkLnot only labour carefu iy and induftrioufly in that he let me about, whether it were matter of advice or otherwife, but neglcding the Queens fervi.ee, mine own fortune, and in a fort my vo¬ cation,! did nothing but advife and ruminate with my felf to the bell of my understanding, propofitions and memorials, of any thing that might concern his Lordfnips honour, fortune, or lervice. And when not long alter I entred into this courfe, my Brother Mr. Anthony Bacon came from beyond the Seas, being a Gentleman whofe ability the world taketh know ledge of for matters of State, fpecially forraign did Jikewife knit his fervice to be at my Lords difpofing. And on the otherfide, I muft and | will ever acknowledge my Lords love, truft and favour towards me, laft of all his liberality, having infeofed me of land which I fold for eighteen hundred pounds to Matter Reynold Nicholas, and I think was more worth, and that at fuch a time, and with io kind and noble circumftances, as the manner was as much as the matter: which though it be but an idle digref- fion, yet becaufe I am not willing to be fhort in commemoration of his benefits, I will prefume tp trouble your Lordfhip with the relating to you the manner of it. After the Queen had denied me the Solicitors place, for the which his Lordfhiphad been a long and earneft futor on my behalf, / it pfeafed him to come to me from Richmond to Twicknam Park, and brake I with